Napkin dispenser



Oct. 12, 1937. B. M. OSWELL NAPKIN DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 9, 1935 Oct. 12, 1937. B. M. OSWELL 2,095,649

NAPKIN DISPENSER Filed April 9, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 12, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application April 9,

1 Claim.

My invention relates generally to dispensing devices and more particularly to a device for containing and dispensing articles such as napkins, towels, facial wiping tissue, toilet paper and the like.

The principal object of my invention is, to providea relatively simple, practical and inexpensive device that may be conveniently employed on the tables and counters of restaurants, refreshl o ment parlors and lunch counters for containing and holding a supply of napkins and which latter are arranged within the containers so as to be readily withdrawn one at a time.

Further objects of my invention are, to provide a napkin dispenser that is relatively simple in construction and comprising few parts so as to facilitate assembly and minimize production costs, further, to provide a napkin dispensing device of duplex structure so as to hold two bodies 20 of folded napkins or the like so that the napkins may be withdrawn through separated openings in the wall of the dispenser housing and said openings being of any desired size and shape so as to permit the napkins-to be readily withdrawn 25 Without difficulty during the withdrawing movement or liability of damage to the napkin as it is being withdrawn.

Further objects of my invention are, to provide a napkin dispenser that may be readily dis- 30 assembled to facilitate cleaning and to provide relatively simple and reversible means that is positioned within the housing of the dispenser for exerting yielding pressure against the body of napkins contained in the dispenser so as to force the same toward the opening through which the napkins are withdrawn.

A further object of my invention is, to provide a napkin holder having on its rear portion a holder for bills of fare, menu cards or the like and which holder includes a spring that engages the inserted card with yielding pressure: to firmly hold the card against the housing of the dispenser.

With the foregoing and other objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangements of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a napkin holder constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. l.

Fig.- 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

t Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the combined 1935, Serial No. 15,380

pressure and follower plates that are inserted in the housing of the dispenser behind the body of napkins.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a plate that is positioned in the bottom of the housing of the dispenser to form a stop for the rear one of the spring pressed follower plates.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the dispenser.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on the line 'l'! of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a, horizontal section taken on the line 88 of Fig. 6.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings and particularly to the form of dispenser illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, l0 designates the upright rear wall of the housing, II the front wall, l2 the top plate and I3 the bottom plate. These walls and plates are formed from suitable sheet metal and their external surfaces may be finished and decorated as desired.

The end portions ll) of the rear wall, are bent forwardly so as to occupy planes approximately forty-five degrees relative to the plane occupied by the intermediate portion of the back wall and thefront wall II is bent along its longitudinal center so that the wings or portions to the sides of the central bend occupy planes at right angles to each other and parallel with the planes occupied by the end portions Ill of the rear wall.

Portions of the sheet metal along the front Vertical edges of the rear wall members Ill and front wall I l are bent inwardly toward each other and then rebent so as to form narrow flanges M of double thickness of material and which flanges are slightly inclined outwardly in order to facilitate the withdrawal of napkins through the opening between said flanges.

Corresponding flanges I5 are bent inwardly from the front edges of the top and bottom plates 12 and I3 between the ends of the flanges l4 and thus two rectangular openings l6 are provided in the front portion of the housing of the dispenser for the withdrawal of napkins therefrom.

Owing to the shape of the housing these openings l6 occupy planes ninety degrees apart.

In order to produce a certain degree of friction between the bottom of the dispenser housing and the surface upon which it rests so as to prevent free movement of the dispenser over the supporting surface, studs l1 formed of rubber or the like and which function as feet, are provided with metal prongs I 8 that project upwardly through the bottom plate l3 and the projecting ends of said prongs are bent downwardly at right angles so that they lie directly on top of bottom plate l3.

Positioned immediately above the bottom plate, is a plate is of metal that functions as a weight that lowers the center of gravity of the housing and tends to prevent the same from being tipped over and this plate lies directly on top of the bent portions of the prongs l8.

Plate l 9 is secured to the bottom plate I3, preferably by means of a centrally arranged rivet 20.

Secured to the lower portion of the rear wall H] of the housing, is the lower portion of a substantially L-shaped bracket 2| and secured to the upper portion of the vertical leg of sald bracket, is the upper portion of a bow spring 22, the intermediate portion of which bears against the outer face of the rear face It.

The parts 2| and 22 function as a spring holder for receiving and holding menu cards, bills of fare and the like and when engaged in the holder, the 'menu cards or bills of fare are held flat against the outer face ofthe rear wall of the housing.

Removably positioned on top of the rear portion of plate i9, is a triangular plate 23 of sheet metal, the apex of which is positioned immediately to the rear of the line on which the front wall H is bent so that the front edges .of said plate occupy positions substantially at right angles to the planes occupied by the end port1ons le of the rear wall and the inclined portions of the front wall ll.

Formed integral with and projecting upwardly from the front edges of the plate 23, are narrow walls or flanges 24. Two bodies of napkins N or the like are pos1- tioned within the housing to the rear of the openings 16 and arranged between each body of napkins and the adjacent flange or wall 24, is a pressure device comprising a pair of substantially rectangular plates 25 of such size as to move freely between the end portions Ill of the rear wall and the inclined portions of front wall ll. One of these plates bears directly against the rear side of one body or bundle of napkins and the lower portion of the other plate bears against the adjacent upturned flange 24 of plate .23.

Arranged between the central portions of plates .25, is a circular spring 26, preferably formed of resilient metal such as is utilized in forming clock springs and the overlapping ends of this spring are secured to one of the plates, preferably by means of a rivet 21.

The diametrically opposite portion of the spring is secured to the other one of the plates by means of a rivet 28.

When a supply of napkins comprising a body of substantial thickness is positioned in the dispenser the plate that bears against the rear side of the body of inserted napkins is forced toward the plate that bears against flange 24 with the result that the spring 26 is bent into substantially oval shape as illustrated in Fig. 2 and as the napkins are withdrawn from the dispenser, the spring due to its resiliency, gradually assumes a circular form and continually forces. the body of napkins toward the opening through which they .are withdrawn.

When all of the napkins have been disposed from the housing fresh supplies of the napkins maybe readily inserted into the housing through the :openings it and during such operation the flexibility of the napkin permits their edges to flanges 24 may be readily withdrawn through 10 either one of the openings I6. It will be noted that the housing It is substantially V-shape in horizontal section with the openings I6 through which the napkins are withdrawn disposed on the front sides of the diverging legs 15 or forwardly projecting portions of the housing. As a result of this arrangement, the openings l6 through which the napkins are withdrawn occupy angular positions on what may be termed the front of the housing, so that when the housing is positioned on the rear portion of a lunch counter, two patrons may simultaneously and conveniently withdraw napkins from the holder.

Further, the V-shaped space in the front of the housing between the opening through which 25 the napkins are withdrawn provides a. convenient pocket or niche for the reception of the salt and pepper shakers.

In the modified construction illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive, a substantially rectangular housing 29 is formed from sheet metal provided in its front and rear walls with openings 3.0 and the edges of the walls surrounding these openings, are provided with inwardly and slightly outwardly inclined retaining flanges 3| of double thickness.

The construction of the flanges 3| in this form of the dispenser is identical with the construction of the flanges l4 .and I5 previously described.

This housing is supported by studs 32 of rubber 40 having metal shanks that extend upwardly through the bottom plate of the housing and overlying the bent ends of these prongs and suitably secured to the bottom plate, is a plate 34 of metal that functions as a weight to minimize the possibility of the dispenser being easily overturned.

Two bodies of napkins N are arranged within the housing to therear of the-openings 30 therein and arranged between these bodies of napkins is a pressure device comprising a pair of substantially rectangular plates 35 that are connected by a centrally arranged circular spring 36.

This pressure device, which is practically identical with the pressure device comprising the plates 25 and spring 26, exerts yielding pressure on the bodies of napkins N to force the same toward the openings 30, thus permitting the outermost one of each body of napkins to be conveniently engaged and removed. 60

While I have shown and described my improved dispenser as being especially designed for the holding and dispensing of paper napkins, it will be understood that the same structure made in suitable size and form may be conveniently em- 65 ployed for holding and dispensing paper towels, toilet paper, tissue paper of the type used for wiping cold cream and the like from the face or any other articles'composed of thin flexible material.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a napkin dispenser that is relatively simple in .construction, inexpensive of manufacture and very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved napkin dispenser may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

In a napkin dispenser, a housing that is substantially V-shaped in cross section so as to provide two upright substantially rectangular chambers adapted to contain napkins, said chambers being disposed substantially at right angles to each other, the front walls of the two chambers the front edges of said triangular plate, which 10 flanges provide stops to limit the rearward movement of the rear pressure plates of each pair.

BENJAMIN M. OSWELL. 

